Revolutionary Intraocular Lens Surgery for Presbyopia and Cataracts

Regarding age-related eye diseases, presbyopia and cataracts are the most commonly mentioned. It is also common for these two conditions to coincide. With advancements in medical techniques, it has become possible to correct presbyopia and cataracts with a single surgery.

The surgery is performed like standard cataract surgery, where the cloudy lens is removed and replaced with a clear intraocular lens. The difference is that a special lens is implanted instead of a mono-focal lens for both near and distant vision.

Dr. Han Young-geun of SNU Cheong Eye Clinic explained, 'Typically, monofocal intraocular lenses used in cataract surgery can only focus on one distance—near, intermediate, or far—so reading glasses were needed after surgery to correct presbyopia. However, special intraocular lenses can also correct near vision, presbyopia, myopia, and astigmatism, which can all be corrected simultaneously, eliminating the need for glasses after surgery.

"In this context, the most notable lens recently is the Precizon intraocular lens. Developed by Ophtec, Precision is the world's first refractive extended depth of focus lens. It offers natural vision at any distance—near, intermediate, or far—through its Continuous Transitional Focus (CTF) technology.

Moreover, it has minimal limitations concerning pupil size and position. It provides robust stability even if the lens capsule contracts after surgery, minimizing the impact on vision if the lens is not perfectly centered in the eye. It is the only lens globally patented for its astigmatism correction technology, making it also suitable for correcting astigmatism.

CEO Dr. Han Young-geun stated, 'When correcting presbyopia and cataracts with the Precizon intraocular lens, most patients can live without glasses after surgery. The lens provides natural vision improvement across all distances—from near tasks like reading, using smartphones, and working on computers, to intermediate tasks like cooking, and distant vision, as well as clear night vision—thus enhancing the quality of life.'

However, no matter how good an intraocular lens may be, it can only be suitable for some. Dr. Han emphasized, 'It is crucial to choose the most appropriate intraocular lens by thoroughly considering your vision, underlying health conditions, and lifestyle through consultation with experienced medical professionals in presbyopia-cataract surgery.'

On the other hand, intraocular lens implantation should not be performed if you only have presbyopia without cataracts. Both presbyopia and cataracts result from lens aging, but presbyopia occurs due to the loss of lens accommodation, while cataracts involve clouding of the lens, leading to impaired vision.

In other words, the two conditions are distinctly different, and intraocular lens implantation is not a surgery that addresses the root cause of presbyopia. The surgery should only be performed when cataracts are present. If you only have presbyopia, you should wear reading or multifocal glasses.